Traveling long distances to a foreign country can be daunting, but these helpful tips will make your trip easier so you can enjoy the trip. The Best Tips for Travelling by Train in Morocco
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Your dream has come true: you are finally in the land of couscous!
The smell of sweet Moroccan pastries hangs in the air. “If you could just stop and catch the honeycomb grill,” you think, before you remember you have a train to catch him. Laughter laughs in the sky of the city.
Watching the city sellers speak out quickly and walk slowly with pointed slippers, you feel like you live in the story of the “Arabian Nights” you dreamed of as a teenager, but the streets are full of cars and taxis braiding their position in the traffic lanes bring you back to reality.
Tired, tired and carrying heavy luggage, you focus on looking through the revolving doors of a remote building.
Baggage owners travel to and from the entrances. Astonished by all the hustle and bustle, you can see taxis lining the sidewalk and travelers deliberately wandering along. It must be a station. Ourika!
The daily mission to roam the city is an invitation, but you are on a mission. A few weeks ago, you were struggling with your few words in Moroccan accent (dialect) and broken French that you have not used since Mr. Monroe’s high school term.
The only two common terms you have learned are thank you (thank you) and normal peace be upon you. Peace be upon you. I’m not even sure if I spelled it correctly, because every time you say it, people smile as if you were making a mistake in pronunciation for beginners.
There are a lot of nice people ready to help, but it will be difficult to ask for instructions with just gestures and these two sentences. Believe me, I went there by myself. I struggled on my first trip to Morocco.
Here are five tips for taking the train to Morocco that I would have liked to know from the start.
Once you reach your destination, avoid riding a taxi parked in front of the station.
I know that when you go from the train station to the city center, and carry a heavy bag on your back, the last thing you want to do is walk a few more meters to get a taxi. Believe me, as much as you want to rest, it is better to take a taxi that is not directly in front of the station.
In fact, taxis in front of the station are often expensive, because drivers can wait for tourists and even other city dwellers who do not know where to take a taxi.
If you walk a few blocks along the main road, you will encounter many vacant taxis and you can avoid crowded queues.
Remember that you can take different types of taxis. There are special taxis that travel long distances inside and outside the city, called “big taxis”. There are also local taxis, called “mini taxis”, which provide ride service. Each type of taxi is a different color and the color depends on the city.
Make sure to check the railway service website before you go.
Before getting on the train, be sure to check the routes and schedules on the website of the ONCF. It will save you time by wandering around the station by looking at the station’s standard architecture, or drinking the terrible coffee in one of the Venice ice bars inside the station – it’s not an Italian brand, so don’t worry – when you prefer to explore a wonderful old city, or “city”.
Knowing the train schedule in advance, you can plan to explore the city before departure. The train station is generally located near the city center. Trains travel between major cities such as Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier and Meknes.
With a little extra time, you can enjoy the views and dine at a local restaurant before setting off. If you don’t have much time, there are many local cafes near train stations where you can enjoy Moroccan mint tea and Brewat or coffee cream while reading a book or just watching people.
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Take the high-speed train: The Best Tips for Travelling by Train in Morocco
The Fast train is also known in Arabic as Al Boraq and French as TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse). Since a high-speed train only operates in 20 countries around the world, you will often not have the opportunity to take such a fast train. Take advantage of your presence in Morocco and travel to the newly opened TGV in the country.
This will get you to your destination faster. Meanwhile, the high-speed train provides the ideal rest for tea, and enjoys the view when the train slows down or simply relaxes.
Listen to “clic clac” on railroad tracks. Immerse yourself in the scenic landscape while charging your electronic devices.
TGV now operates only between Casablanca, Rabat, Kenitra, and Tangier. Keep in mind that if you move from Fes to Tangier, you can take a regular train and TGV with just one ticket, and realize that the TGV track will soon connect more cities.
Book high speed train tickets here
Remember your seat number and remember courtesy: The Best Tips for Travelling by Train in Morocco
Once you buy your ticket and finally ride the train with your heavy bags, which contain caffeine and the desire to sit down, remember there are seat tasks. Your ticket will contain a cabin number and a seat number. If you do not know where to park along the platform to reach the appropriate cabin, ONCF staff can help.
Once all the hustle and bustle on the platform of the locomotives is behind you, it is not uncommon for the seats to become slightly cloudy.
You can enter the wrong cabin and occupy the wrong seat. Likewise, you may find a little old lady in your seat, perhaps traveling with a turtle (a true story). If so, politely explain that this is your seat and apologize for the confusion.
Most Moroccans are very kind – as long as you treat them kindly too – and they will understand that this is a common confusion. If the train is not crowded and there are lots of vacant seats, then don’t be picky and sit elsewhere. This will save you hassle and put the old lady and her turtle at rest.
Make sure you know the transfer points along your route.
If your itinerary includes a transfer point, you will usually receive two tickets at the station ticket office. The first ticket will be from point A to the transfer point. The second ticket will be from the transfer point to your final destination, point B. Don’t lose your tickets by using them as bookmarks! Keep it close at hand, as the attendant will come and check it out.
Once you arrive at the transfer station, be sure to take a look at the signs above the platforms. They will show the destination of each train.
If you are confused, you can always try to ask a station official if you are on the right track.
If you are lucky, they will speak English. you speak bingo or french, it is better! f neither of them were correct. Now would be a good time to refer to the phrasebook in Arabic or French, but this is an unlikely scenario. f you don’t have a phrasebook at your fingertips, you can download the Reverso app or go to the Reverso website. Enter your stage and translate it into French or Arabic. It is a good way to learn to communicate while indulging in daily travel. Or a friendly Moroccan who can speak English and translate for you.
Now that you’ve pre-prepared everything for your train trip, you no longer have to worry about trains. It’s time to embark on a great adventure in the land of Couscous!
Those were The Best Tips for Travelling by Train in Morocco
If you have questions about trains in Morocco? Let me know in the comments section below.
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The Best Tips for Travelling by Train in Morocco
The Best Tips for Travelling by Train in Morocco
Read More About TGV Al Boraq High speed Train